Collapsible baby walker



Aug. 7, 1923. 1,463,820 E. HUMPHREVILILE COLLAPSIBLE BABY W. A.LKER Filed April 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

EDWIN HUMIPHREVILLE, or LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

GOLLAPSIBLE BABY WALKER."

Application filed. April 15, 1922. Serial No. 552,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN HUMPHRE- vILLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Baby Walkers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to baby walkers or tenders designed to safely and comfortably support a baby and to instruct in the first stages of walking. Heretofore, baby walkers have been so constructed as to render it impossible or impractical, at least without considerable difiiculty, to arrange it in compact form for placing the same away when not in use, storage or shipment or other purpose, and for disconnecting the parts composing the same. 7 i

It is therefore an object of the present invention to primarily provide a foldable or knock-down structure for baby walkers and the like which when not in use may be collapsed into a relatively small or narrow compass and thereby stored in a minimum of space and to be entirelyout of the way and convenient to handle when not in use, in lieu of being cumbersome and inconvenient to store and handle as is otherwise the case.

The invention furthercomprehends novel means for connecting the top and bottom or body and arm engaging or base members-or rings of the frame, that is, for connecting the legs or braces to said top and bottom frame members constituting the primary elements of the structure or device and to permit movement of the braces or legs with respect to'one of said frame members and particularly the bottom frame member or base,

whereby the device may be readily and conveniently collapsed or extended for storage and use, respectively, and it is to be understood that while I have shown the invention as embodied in a baby walker, I include kindred structures which employ two or more relatively movable frame members associated in such relation as to permit them to be moved relatively as are the frame members of a baby walker.

It is also an object of theiinvention to provide means whereby when the device is folded or collapsed, it may be frictionally held or locked in such position and especially to prevent extension of the frame,.and in particular, angular movements of the legs or braces with respect to the base member of the frame, while thevarious parts of the walker are constructed with a view to simplicity and economical manufacture, as well as durability in use and convenience in handling.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which i Figure l is a sideelevation of a baby walker constructed in accordance with the invention and extended or set up-for use, the saddle and tray being omitted,

' Figure 2 is a bottom plan-view,

Figure 3 is a diametrical sectional-view it line 5-5 of Figure 4 but showing the brace member partially disengaged from itsfas- 'tening means,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing parts engaged as in Figure 4t and looking in the opposite direction from that .3

in which Figure 5 is taken,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a brace held in an inoperative position,

t Figure 8 1s a sectional elevation taken on the line 88 of Figure 7, and v Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, in detail in which for purposes of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a baby. walker or tender which comprises a top frame member 10 designed to engage the body and arms in the usual manner and which is in the form ofa woodenring of the usual or any preferred construction or cross section. This top frame member is much smaller than the 1 bottom frame member or base '11. as usual and thus, provision being made, the diamesince the latter is of smaller diameter, These frame membersmay be of'wood" or metal and thebottom frame member or base is designed to be supported upon casters, rollers or the like 12 in order that it may be freely struction embodied in my present invention and the improvements contemplated thereby. In order to connect the top and bottom frame members and to support thetop frame member in spaced relation to the bottom member and above the same when in use, as well as to permit of a knock-down structure whereby the top frame member can be folded or collapsed toward the bottom frame memher, a series, preferably threebraces or legs 13 are provided between said top and bottom frame members, which latter are preferably made 'circular or in the form of closed rings as shown and as usual in baby walkers. The braces 13 are all alike in construction and are equi 'distantly spaced apart around the frame, so that a description'of one and its connection with the frame members will-sufiice for all. As illustrated, the upper end of eachbrace is hinged or pivoted to the top frame member and for this purpose is provided with a right angularly bent portion'14; forming a pivot or trunnion'engaged in the bearing portion of a clip or plate 15 detachably secured to the bottom face of the top frame member in any suitable way as indicated at 16.

In the form shown, screws are employed, the frame members being constructed of wood but it is to be understood that if the frame members are of metalor other material the fastening means may be varied, the essential feature being the pivotal connection so as to revent the braces or legs from turning bodi y; The clips or plates 15 are each provided with integrally formed apertured ears 17 provided to receive springsor the like 18 which form resilient supports or suspension means for the usual saddle or seat not shown and which is suspended beneath the top frame member and within the braces so as to support the child in the usual way.

The lower end of each braceis connected to the bottom frame member detachably', and movably or slidably associated therewith as broadly contemplated within the scope ofthis improvement so asto permit of 'acollapsible or knock-down structure whereby the top frame'member can be collapsedor folded toward the bottom frame member so that when the device is not in use, it may be folded relatively fiat as a convenience in handling and storing'in a relatively small, inconspicuous or out of the way place," whileasqwill be hereinafter described, holding or locking means is provided to engage said braces and secure the same against movements particularly in angular directions so as to prevent ,extension or movement of the top frame member with respect to the lower or bottom frame memberconstituting the base of the device, or vice versa, as will hereinafter more fully appear. I V F or this purpose and in the form shown, the lower end of each brace,'which braces are shown of circular cross section, are bent at their lower endswith portions 19 extending downwardly in a substantially vertical directi'on and at obtuse' angles relative to the main portion, then curved or re-bent out wardlyand upwardly as indicated by the hight portion 20, the upwardly directed portion 21 terminating in its upper end short 01 the bend 22, thus providing a gooseneck' in inverted position- The upper end of the part 21 is preferably flattened on opposite sides as indicated at 23 so as to provide upwardly facing shoulders 24 and the sides at right angles thereto are equipped with notches 25 inthe formof ratchet notches or teeth having beveled side walls andtop walls forming downwardly facing shoulders disposed at right angles to'the axis of the portions 21. 1 a The bottom frame member or base is preferably of rectangular cross section as shown and has a vertical opening 26 extending through the top and bottom faces thereof and on the top of the botomframe member over the opening is disposed an arcuateplate 27, preferably having apertured end pertions detachably secured to-the frame member as indicated at 28. The-plate is provided with a substantiallyoval shaped opening 29 so as to correspond substantially withthe cross section of the upperend of the brace portion 21 above the shoulders and notches and angularmovement, the lower end of the brace or'bar and particularly the portion 19 thereof as more especially shown in Figures 1, 5 and 60f the drawings.

The plate 27 has the tongue 30 located near one end thereof and the aperture 32 is so that the brace will extend throughthe aperture 32 and upwardly through theo pe-nings 26 and 29, when in operative position and with the head 23 thereof protruding aligned axially with the openings 26 and 29 above thetop of the plate 27. ,In other words, the. plate may be saidto extend or to be prolonged 'or elongated in a direction away from the strip or tongue 30 and is provided upon the lateral extension thus produced, with means to engage the upper end of'the part 21 at the lower extremity of the brace so as to securely lock or hold the same in an operative position. This device is in the nature of a sliding bolt or keeper and as illustrated the plate is provided with spaced opposed off-sets 33 forming guideways for a spring latch or keeper 34 made of resilient metal such as spring steel and arcuated or bent up in the middle as. shown at 35 so as to frictionally engage the bottom faces of the portions 33 in themanner clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings so as to permit the keeperto move under restraint or friction and to remain in a fixedsposition when adjusted. The outerfend of the keeper is directed upwardly to form a thumb piece 36 by which it may be manipulated as well as limitcdin its movement and held from displacement by engagement with the adjacent fastening screw as clearly indicated in F igures 4; and 8 of the drawings. The: inner end of the keeper isslotted or bifurcated as indicated at 37, the furcations engaging upon opposite sides of the head 23 and beneath the shoulders of the notches 25 when the brace is in position to dispose the head 23 above the plate 27, thus preventing clownward displacement of the brace. On the other hand, the wall of the plate 27 around the opening29 projects over the rim of the openingQG; the lat-terbeing enlarged with respect to the opening 29 so as to permit the shoulders 24 facing upwardly to engage the bottom face ofthe plate 27 and limit the upward displacement of the brace member at the lower end thereof slidably co-engaged with the bottom or base member of the frame.

There is thus provided a sliding and detachable connection between the braces and the bottom framemember, this idea being broadly embodied in the connection, and in orderto understand the operation, the specific embodiment will be used, but it may be stated that the essential feature in this connection, besides the specific novel,

- structure particularly adapted forthe purposes specified, is that a rigid, convenient and effective securing means is provided between the lower ends of the braces and the bottom or base member of the frame so as to obviate accidental collapsingof the device as an entirety when set up for use, but to permit convenient partial disconnection of the braces and bottom member so as to render the permanent connection inoperative and permit the braces or bars 13 forming the legs of the structure tobe shifted from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings to the positions shown in Figure 3 of the drawings whereby thedevice may be collapsed into a very compact and relatively flat'position, the braces having the ends 21 displaced from the openings 26 and 29. by sliding and disengaging the keepers 34 from the heads 23 and moving the braces and bottomframe member relatively, the portions 19 sliding through the apertures 32, then, by reason of the elongation of the apertures 32, the end portions 21 at the heads 23 may be. totally disengaged or displaced from the openings 26 and the braces allowedto movedownwardly at their upper and inner ends connected to the top frame member 10 and upwardly at their lower or outer ends provided with the goosenecks or hooks so that the latter ends will be displaced and moved outwardly with respeot to the bottom frame member as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the top frame member moving downwardly to collapsed position substantially in alignment or in the same plane with the bottom frame member 11, or slightly below it, thusproducing avcompa-cltand relativelyfiat or uniplaner structure which can be conveniently handled and stored away in a minimumof space. i By providing the braces with book ends, a part of the supporting stress is transmitted from the keeper to thewalls of the openings inthe bottom frame for the reasonithat the braces have ate-ndency to swing downward with; respect to the bottom. frameand the openings through which the hook ends take will not permit such swinging movement, consequently a frictional or binding engagement of the book ends wit-h the walls of the opening will result; this condition of the bracein the openings takes part of the supportingstress from the-keeper.

It is desirable in this connection to pro videmeans for preventing the braces Shift". ing or movingin angular relation to the bottom frame member from the, position shown in Figure ,3 and for this purpose locking means is provided between the braces and the bottom frame or base adapted to frictionally engage the braces. ,As shown, this device consists of a lock in the form of plate or strip 38 of metal pivoted atone end as at 39 to the bottom of the bot: tom frame member or, base 11 to one side of vthe opening 26; the plate being ofi-set down planes parallel to each other and disturbing the collapsedcondition of the complete device when so arranged and not in use. On the other-hanchthese looking or holding devices byreason of their pivotal mounting may be swung or turned into or outof operative positions and when swung away from the braces when so positioned to hold the device collapsed as shown more particularly in Figures '3, and 7 to 9v inclusive, to

the positions shown in Figures l and 2, thebraces may be angularly displaced with respect to the bottom frame member and by raising the topframe member, the braces may be drawn through the guide eyes or apertures 32 of the strips or tongues BO and again securely fastened in position at the extremities thereof by co-operating fastening means between the braces and the bot tom frame member as heretofore described, so that the device will be set up and in position for use as shown in Figures 1 and'2 of the'drawings, without the necessity of re moving screws or other fastening means, the objection to which is obvious. i WVhile I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various'parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit'thereof, and hence I do not limit my self to'the precise construction set forth, but consider that I 'am at liberty to make such changes and'alterations as fairly come within the 'scop'e'ofthe appended claims. Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim asnew and'desire to secure by Let ters Pate nt is: v f V '1. A baby'walker' including an upper frame and a lower frame having an opening; a brace pivoted to the upper frame and having a'hook 'end adapted to take into the opening a" plate on thel'ower frame, and means on the plate'forlocking the hook end to the lower frame. 3 i

' baby walker including an upper frame and a lower frame having an open:

mg; a brace pivotedto theupper frame and having a hook end adapted totake into the Opening; a guide eye on'the lower frame for guiding thehook end into the opening; a plate on the lower frame, and means on the platefforlockin'g the hookend'to the lower frame. I y

3. A baby walker including an "u per frame and alower frameh a-x'rir'igan opening; a"brace pivoted to the upper frame and having a-hook'end' adapted 'to'ta'ke into the opening a guide eye on the lower frame for guiding thehook end into the opening; a plate on the lower 'fr'ame, and a keeper slidmg on theplat'e for locking the-hook end to the lower frame. I

at. A baby walkerincluding upper and lower frames; braces pivoted to the upper frame and having hook ends adapted to enga e the lower frame; means on the lower frame for locking the hook ends to the frame, and means on the lower frame for holding the braces in collapsed position.

5. A baby walker including upper and lower frames; braces pivoted to the upper frameand having hook ends adapted to engage the lower frame; means on the lower frame for-locking the hook ends to the frame; guide eyes on the lower frame for guiding the hook ends into engagement with the frame, and means co-operating with the guide eyes for holding the braces in collapsed position. c I

6. A baby walker including upper and lower frames; braces pivoted to the upper frame and having hook ends adapted to engage the lower frame; means on the lower frame for locking the book ends to the frame; guideeyes on the lower frame for guiding the-hook ends into engagement with the frame, and a pivoted fork frictionally engaging the braces and co-operating with the guide eyes to hold the braces in collapsed position. 1

I. In combinationwith a pair of frame members, braces pivoted to one frame member, said braces having angularly bent hooked portions; plates carried by the other frame member and having guide eyes for slidably receiving the hooked ends of the braces, said'p'lates and the frame member having aligned openings; and keepers movable into and'out of the path of the openings, said hooked portions being designed to; extend through said openings for engagement by'the keepers. v 8. In combination with a pair'of frame members, braces pivoted to one frame member, said braces having angularly bent hooked portions; plates carried by the other frame member and having guide eyes for slidably receiving the hooked ends of the braces, s'aidp'lates and the frame member having aligned openings; keepers movable into and'out of the paths of the openings, said hooked portions being designed to extend through said openings for engagement by the keepers to permit relative movements of the braces and frame members whereby the same may be moved into extended or collapsedpositio'ns and to hold the braces in rigid fixed relation to the frame members; and means carried by one frame mem her to engage the braces and prevent angular movements of the braces with respect thereto. a i

9. In a device of the class described, a frame member provided with an opening; a plate secured to the frame member and having an opening aligned with the opening of the frame member, said plate having a tongue with an angular portion having an aperture; a bar slidable in said aperture and having a hooked portion to engage the openings; and a keeper slidably and frictionally mounted on the plate to engage the hooked end of the bar when disposed in the openings.

10. In a device of the class described, a frame member provided with an opening; a plate secured to the frame member and having an opening aligned with the open ing of the frame member, said plate having a tongue with an angular portion having an aperture; a bar slidable in said aperture and having a hooked portion to engage the openings; guides on the plate; and a keeper slidable in the guides and adapted to be held in adjusted position, said hooked end being limited in its movement against the plate and provided with notches and the keeper having portions to engage the notches to prevent displacement of the hooked end with respect to the openings and movement of the bar with respect to the frame member, said keeper when disengaged permitting movement of the bar with respeot to the frame member.

11. In combination with a .pair of frame members, braces pivoted to one frame member; plates carried by the other frame member and having guide eyes for slidably receiving the braces, said plates and the frame member having aligned openings; and keepers movable into andout of the path of the openings, said braces being designed to extend through said openings for engagement of the keepers.

12. In combination with a pair of frame members, braces pivoted to one frame member having angularly bent hooked parts; plates carried by the other frame member and having guide eyes for slidably receiving the hooked ends of the braces, said plates and the frame member having aligned openings; keepers movable into and out of the paths of the openings, the angularly bent parts being designed to extend through the openings for engagement by the keepers to permit relative movements of the braces and frame members whereby the same may be moved into extended or collapsed positions and to hold the braces in rigid fixed relation to the frame members; and means carried by one frame member to engage the braces and prevent angula'r movements of the braces with respect thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN HUMPHREVILLE. Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAs. E. Po'rrs. 

